The amendments, to be known as ”The Manila amendments to the STCW Convention and Code”, are set to take effect from 1 January 2012.
There are a number of important changes to each chapter of the Convention and Code, including;
• Improved measures to prevent fraudulent practices associated with certificates of competency and strengthen the evaluation process. (Monitoring of Parties` compliance with the Convention.);
• Revised requirements on hours of work and rest and new requirements for the prevention of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as updated standards relating to medical fitness standards for seafarers;
• New certification requirements for able seafarers;
• New requirements relating to training in modern technology such as electronic charts and information systems (ECDIS);
• New requirements for marine environment awareness training and training in leadership and teamwork;.
• New training and certification requirements for electro-technical officers;
• Updating of competence requirements for personnel serving on board all types of tankers, including new requirements for personnel serving on liquefied gas tanker;.
• New requirements for security training, as well as provisions to ensure that seafarers are properly trained to cope if their ship comes under attack by pirates;.
• Introduction of modern training methodology including distance learning and webbased learning;
• New training guidance for personnel serving on board ships operating in polar waters, and;
• New training guidance for personnel operating Dynamic Positioning Systems. (DPS)
IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos declares;
”Our vision for the revised Convention and Code has always been that the two instruments would provide, at any given time, the necessary global standards for the training and certification of seafarers to operate technologically advanced ships today and in the foreseeable future…..”
Secretary-General in Internaitonal Chambers of Shipping, Mr. Peter Hinchliffe says;
”We are confident that the wide-ranging package of changes agreed will further enhance maritime training and the seafaring profession, and contribute to making it even safer.”
New provisions on hours of rest;
Under the Amendments to the STCW convention, all persons who are assigned duty as officer in charge of a watch or as a rating forming part of a watch and those whose duties involve designated safety, prevention of pollution and security duties shall be provided with a rest period of not less than;
• a minimum of 10 hours rest in any 24 hour period, and
• 77 hours in any 7 day period.
The hours of rest may be divided into no more than two periods, one of which shall be at least 6 hours in length, and the intervals between consecutive periods of rest shall not exceed 14 hours.
Focus on leadership and teamwork;
Use of leadership and managerial skill is described in several columns in the ”Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code.” Focus is set on Resource management and Decision making techniques.
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Mr. Mitropoulos expressed his thoughts further about the revised STCW;
”I would suggest that the successful closure of the Conference should be seen as marking the beginning of strenuous efforts at three levels; first, to commence, at the earliest possible opportunity, work to translate the revised STCW requirements into national regulations – with the aim of expediting their implementation; second, to deliver, as appropriate, technical assistance through IMO`s Integrated Technical Co-operation Program – with the aim of familiarizing STCW Parties with the revised requirements, and to provide useful technical advice on the STCW Convention and the STCW as a whole; and third, to initiate action, as may be necessary, to ensure the full and effective implementation and rigorous enforcement of the revised STCW Convention and Code when the amendments come into force on the agreed date of 1 January 2012.”
The majority of the other changes are on such a detailed level that we leave it to your Crew Manager to scrutinize the new Code in due course. Let there be no doubt, however, that the
”Manila Amendments to the STCW Convention and Code” is a new step forward to ensure safe navigation on the seven seas.
EH/10/10